Golden Gate USA Self Drive Motorcycle Tours

Choose dates to suit you between May & October.

Firstly, let us explain a little about Self-Drive Tours. Designed for those independent spirits who want to enjoy touring, but without any of the hassle of planning routes and dealing with logistics. Your Self-Drive package includes a late model, well maintained motorcycle, all quality hotel accommodation, a detailed, day by day itinerary with lots of useful tips, and transfers between your hotel and bike pick-up location. Routes have been meticulously planned by professionals, and take you along the most scenic and attractive roads in the area. GPS navigation can also be arranged as an optional extra, with a Garmin Zumo fully pre-programmed with your route and overnight stops, ensuring you spend less time studying the maps, and more time enjoying the ride.

Days 1 & 2. Your tour begins in Las Vegas, where you’ll stay for two nights, right on The Strip, with all it’s wonderfully over the top hotels! You’ll pick-up your bikes on the afternoon of day 2, in readiness for an early start next morning. There’s so much to see in this gamblers’ paradise, from the dancing waters at the Bellaggio, to the calm canals complete with singing Gondoliers at the Venetian. Check it all out, have a little flutter, lose your jetlag and acclimatise to the heat.

Day 3. The day you’ve all been waiting for! After an early ride up The Strip, you’ll leave Las Vegas and head west to Death Valley, the lowest place in North America, and the hottest place on earth! A series of sweeping mountain curves will take you hundreds of feet below sea level to the valley basin, and the ancient mudflats of long-forgotten seas. More mountain curves will take you back up into the cooler and more comfortable air of Mammoth Lakes, where you’ll stay overnight, and look back on an incredible day! Approx 280 miles.

Day 4. From the lowest place in North America yesterday, you’ll ride Tioga Pass today, the highest pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, twisting and curving on our way to Yosemite National Park. Who said America was all long, straight roads? Yosemite is breathtakingly beautiful, and famous for it’s Giant Sequoia groves, granite cliffs, waterfalls & streams. Oh, and don’t forget to look out for bears! Approx 175 miles

Day 5. You will stay another night, so you can go back into Yosemite to fully explore this stunningly beautiful National Park. Why not take a lazy raft ride down the Merced River, and see the park from a completely different angle?

Day 6. You leave the High Sierra today, heading westward to the coast, and riding more wonderful roads through an area of outstanding natural beauty. From the headland you’ll catch your first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge, then ride across it as you enter San Francisco, for your two-night stay. Approx 222 miles

Day 7. Free day to explore this vibrant city. You absolutely must take a ride on a tramcar, visit Chinatown, the shops (and the resident seals) on Pier 39, eat ice cream at Ghiradelli’s, and check out Lombard Street, the ‘crookedest street in the world!’ Or take a boat ride to visit the infamous Alcatraz prison, which stands on a rock in the bay, once the home of notorious criminals but now a fascinating tourist attraction. (Pre-tour booking is necessary)

Day 8. Back on the road again today, and leaving San Francisco you’ll be riding on Highway 1, along the spectacular coastline of the Pacific Ocean. A slight detour inland will take you to visit Alice’s Café, a favourite haunt of bikers, the most famous of whom was Steve McQueen. Then it’s back on Pacific Coast Highway as we ride towards the Big Sur & Monterey. Be sure to look out for migrating whales, which can sometimes be seen as they come up for air off this dramatic coast. Approx 153 miles

Day 9. Feel the cool Pacific breeze on your face as you continue on the fabulously scenic Highway 1. You’ll visit the picturesque town of Carmel, where Clint Eastwood was once the mayor. Further down the coast, you’ll have the opportunity to photograph the massive elephant seals basking lazily on the beach. Overnight near Pismo Beach. Approx 140 miles

Day 10. Today you continue south towards Los Angeles, occasionally leaving the coastal route to take advantage of fabulous forest and mountain roads, before re-joining PCH to ride through the famous resorts of Santa Barbara, Malibu Beach and Santa Monica, en-route to your central Hollywood hotel. Approx 184 miles

Day 11. Heading south from Los Angeles, you’ll ride cool winding mountain roads to the lively biker café Hell’s Kitchen, then onwards to Paradise! Your descent to Lake Elsinore promises more spectacular views, then on through the San Bernadino Forest for a refreshing swim in your hotel pool, in the lush oasis of Palm Springs. Approx 192 miles

Day 12. Leaving Palm Springs, you’ll ride through the amazing landscape and rock formations of Joshua Tree National Park. You’ll join the Historic Route 66 at Amboy, as you head to Needles, for your overnight stay right on the Mother Road, near the banks of the mighty Colorado River. Approx 196 miles

Day 13. Today You’ll ride some of the twistiest parts of Route 66, with a visit to the quaint old silver mining town of Oatman, where wild burros roam the streets. Later you’ll be crossing the magnificent Hoover Dam, built in the 1930’s to harness the power of the great Colorado River. Then it’s back across the Nevada desert to Las Vegas, to return your bikes. Approx 151 miles

Day 14. Depart for Las Vegas McCarran Airport, homeward bound.

Prices per Person

2018

2019

2 people, 1 bike, 1 room

£2195

£2260

2 people, 2 bikes, 1 room

£2895

£2980

1 person, 1 bike, 1 room

£4095

£4220

Trike supplement

POA

Choose your own dates – this tour is available between May & October.

If a larger group of bikes are going on the tour, please ask us for a quote.

In the case of major Exchange Rate fluctuations, we reserve the right to alter prices and issue a currency surcharge/refund if necessary.

A deposit of £300 per bike is required. 50% of the tour price is due 6 months before departure, with the balance in full 3 months before.